Sometimes avoiding a food is a food cure in and of itself. A new piece of health news, which might deflate those who like a quick bite on the run, has found that certain foods are linked to depression. Fast food and baked goods top the list.
Published in the “Public Health Nutrition” journal, it found that eating baked goods like croissants and muffins, as well as typical fast food items, on a frequent basis makes one about 50% more likely to develop depression.
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They also found that the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression. It demonstrated that those who eat the most fast food and commercial baked goods are more likely to be single and less active, smoke, and have poor dietary habits. The latter includes a diet lower in fruit, fish, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil.
Those same ideas played out in those who eat reasonably high levels of baked goods. Even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher chance of developing depression.
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They discovered this in a long-term study of 9,000 people who had never been diagnosed with depression or taken antidepressants. Over six months, about 500 developed depression or began to take antidepressants. The study echoed previous research that identified a 42% increased depression risk linked to fast food.
We know that depression right now strikes 121 million people worldwide. It is one of the main global causes of disability-adjusted life year (i.e. years of life lost to ill health and/or disability). Little is known about the role that diet plays in developing depressive disorders. Previous studies suggest that certain nutrients have a preventative role. These include group B-vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and olive oil. Furthermore, a healthy diet such as that enjoyed in the Mediterranean has been linked to a lower risk of developing depression.
One thing seems certain: healthy foods are healthy not only for their effects on the body, not only for the nutrients they contain, but also for their effects on the mind. Be healthy, think healthy.